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Improving the venue for men's and women's basketball is now the top priority for the UC athletic department, according to athletic director Mike Bohn.

"It's the total fan experience that we're working on," Bohn said, "the arena, the pre-game opportunities, the egress after games, all those pieces. We're taking a full bore down into all of those different issues to ensure the commitment to basketball is well-represented and fully demonstrated. We have some of the nation's top people helping us work on that."

Included in that study, Bohn said, will be an analysis about whether it would make sense to move the men's games downtown to U.S. Bank Arena if the arena makes a commitment to renovate that facility to UC's satisfaction.

"I know the importance of a new venue, an improved venue," Bohn said, "and the commitment to the sport as quickly as possible. We want to catch up to the football stadium as quickly as possible."

Nippert Stadium is under construction as it undergoes an $86-million renovation that will increase capacity and add premium seating. That project is scheduled to be finished in time for the start of the 2015 season. UC will play its games this fall at Paul Brown Stadium downtown while the construction continues.

Already on track, Bohn said, is a $1.2-million renovation of both the men's and women's locker rooms at Fifth Third Arena.

"The money has been raised," Bohn said. "All the commitments are in place. We hope to have the team in there maybe as early as Christmas."

UC is also working on a new contract for men's basketball coach Mick Cronin.